CN101569040A - Asymmetric dovetail interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell - Google Patents

Asymmetric dovetail interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell Download PDF

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Publication number
CN101569040A
CN101569040A CNA2006800568282A CN200680056828A CN101569040A CN 101569040 A CN101569040 A CN 101569040A CN A2006800568282 A CNA2006800568282 A CN A2006800568282A CN 200680056828 A CN200680056828 A CN 200680056828A CN 101569040 A CN101569040 A CN 101569040A
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
contact zone
connector
turning
fuel cell
mid portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
CNA2006800568282A
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Chinese (zh)
Inventor
J·R·豪克斯
C·E·伯德
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
UTC Power Corp
Original Assignee
UTC Fuel Cells LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by UTC Fuel Cells LLC filed Critical UTC Fuel Cells LLC
Publication of CN101569040A publication Critical patent/CN101569040A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0206—Metals or alloys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
    • H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H01M8/0254—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form corrugated or undulated
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

An interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a conductive structure having first portions defining a first contact zone, second portions defining a second contact zone which is spaced from the first contact zone, and intermediate portions extending between the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portions are joined to the first portions through first corners, and wherein the intermediate portions are joined to the second portions through second corners, and wherein the first corners have a smaller radius than the second corners .

Description

The asymmetric wedge shape connector that is used for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Technical field
The present invention relates to Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, particularly, the present invention relates to be used for the connector of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.
Background technology
Typical fuel cell power generating system has fuel cell and the bipolar plates that is arranged alternately.The purposes of connector is to collect from the electric current of a battery and makes electric current flow to next battery from a battery.
A kind of structure of connector is the form of half rectangle (semi-rectangular) structure of conduction, fuel cell that the contact of described connector structure is adjacent and bipolar plates so that electric current flow through betwixt.Though substantially function be intended to be used for by and collected current, this connector is same to be associated with good contact of maintenance with adjacent parts.In addition, rectangular configuration also has bigger compression stiffness, and this may also be a problem.
Be apparent that, need a kind of improved connector that can overcome above-mentioned these problems and solve the existing aforementioned deficiency of rectangular configuration.
Summary of the invention
According to technical scheme of the present invention, aforementioned need is met.
According to the present invention, a kind of connector that is used for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, comprise: conductive structure, described conductive structure comprises the first that limits first contact zone, limit the second portion of second contact zone that separates with described first contact zone, and the mid portion that between described first and described second portion, extends, wherein said mid portion links by first turning and described first, and described mid portion links by second turning and described second portion, and described first turning has than the littler radius in described second turning.
Further according to the present invention, a kind of sofc assemblies comprises: fuel cell; The connector structure of bipolar plates and conduction, described connector structure comprises the first that limits with the contacted fuel cell of described fuel cell contact zone, limit the second portion of the bipolar plates contact zone that separates with described first contact zone and contact with described bipolar plates, and the mid portion that between described first and described second portion, extends, wherein said mid portion links by first turning and described first, and described mid portion links by second turning and described second portion, and described first turning has than the littler radius in described second turning.
Description of drawings
Below, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the present of invention are described in detail, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a kind of connector with rectangular geometry of prior art;
Fig. 2 shows the deformed state of connector shown in Figure 1;
Fig. 3 shows according to a kind of connector of the present invention;
Fig. 4 shows the deformed state of connector shown in Figure 3; With
Fig. 5 shows another optional embodiment.
Embodiment
The present invention relates to a kind of connector that is used for fuel cell, particularly, the present invention relates to a kind of connector that is used for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.Described connector has asymmetric wedge-type shape, and this asymmetric wedge-type shape helps the deformation quantity and the compliance that provide required when being compressed.
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a kind of connector 1 with half rectangular shape, described connector generally is used between the adjacent component of fuel cell power generating system, for example between fuel cell 2 and bipolar plates 3, provide to be electrically connected, schematically show each parts wherein among Fig. 1.
Connector 1 is known as and is half rectangular shape, and this is because connector 1 is to be formed by the material that is shaped in order to alternate between first horizontal component, vertical mid portion and second horizontal component.This structure repeats to present along the connector of specific dimensions.Owing to repeat the rectangular shape with three sides by this structure qualification, therefore described connector is known as the connector that is half rectangular shape in this application.
When being compressed, Fig. 2 shows a kind of typical reaction that is used for this connector 1, thereby wherein 4 bendings of battery contact portion are away from the battery 2 of battery 2 formation towards recessed surfaces.Owing between connector and battery, almost there is not or do not have a bond strength, thus this be do not wish to occur, and the deformation that causes producing has reduced the contact area between connector 1 and the battery 2.In addition, the straight configuration that compares of described sidepiece or intermediate member 5 has reduced the compliance of connector 1 under the contractive condition.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show a kind of connector according to an embodiment of the invention 10.Connector 10 is positioned between the adjacent component of fuel cell power generating system, for example is positioned between fuel cell 12 and the bipolar plates 14, is used to collect from the electric current of a battery and makes electric current flow to next battery from a battery.Connector 10 is at this position contact or interconnection dividing plate or the surface of bipolar plates and the outer surface of fuel cell electrode.
Fig. 3 shows the connector 10 with a plurality of firsts 16, and described a plurality of firsts copline and limiting together substantially are used for and fuel cell component fuel cell 12 contacted first contact zones for example.Connector 10 also has a plurality of second portions 18, and described a plurality of second portions copline and limiting together equally substantially are used for and another fuel cell component bipolar plates 14 contacted second contact zones for example.
As shown in FIG., first 16 links together by mid portion 20 with second portion 18, and described mid portion extends between first 16 and second portion 18.Compare with structure shown in Figure 1, mid portion 20 is angle A with respect to first 16 and second portion 18, and described angle A is between about 20 ° and about 70 °.In addition, at the some place that mid portion 20 and first 16 intersect, they limit turning 22, and described turning 22 is for having the rounded structure of first curvature radius r.Similarly, at the some place that mid portion 20 and second portion 18 intersect, they limit turning 24, and described turning 24 is for having the rounded structure of second curvature radius R.As shown in Figure 3, second curvature radius R is greater than first curvature radius r.The ratio of the radius r at the radius R at turning 24 and turning 22 more preferably is at least about 2.5 therefore greater than 1.This configuration of the angle A of the radius at turning 22,24 and mid portion 20 is used for providing good contact the between connector 10 and the fuel cell 12 under contractive condition, and the good compliance that connector 10 is provided.
Particularly, should be noted that: can set the size at turning 22,24, thereby make these curves intersect, and in this configuration, mid portion 20 does not have considerable length at the point of contact.By this configuration, point of contact self will be regarded as mid portion, and the angle of angle A for forming with respect to the straight line by this point of contact.
Fig. 4 shows the connector 10 that is under the contractive condition, and Fig. 4 illustrates the first 16 that limits first contact zone and keeps copline substantially.This is desirable, and reason is: this helps to keep to contact with the good of adjacent fuel cell 12.The mode that the bigger radius R that is arranged in 24 places, turning is used under contractive condition producing with the contact zone that does not make the fuel cell that first 16 and half rectangle connector illustrated in figures 1 and 2 exist deformation produces deformation.In addition, the angular adjustment of mid portion 20 helps to provide required compliance in response to compressive state.
Connector 10 is set to form in the plate of conductive material in the structure that limits the first that separates and second portion or the form of strip of conductive material.Alternately the passage of arranging 26,28 is limited between the adjacent mid portion 20.Passage 26 leads to fuel cell 12 and passage 28 leads to bipolar plates 14.Allow to use the wideer passage that may exist in the structure of connector 10 than rectangular configuration, particularly wideer passage 28, and this all is favourable for compression stiffness and contact area etc.The disclosed configuration of the present invention has produced the overlapping of first contact zone and second contact zone, and allows described first contact zone greater than described second contact zone simultaneously.
Fig. 4 shows under contractive condition, first 16 and second portion 18 part crossovers, and just increased the contact surface area above connector 10 both sides like this.
Fig. 3 also illustrates together with Fig. 4: collide unfriendly under the situation about contacting not existing with fuel cell, the bigger radius above the non-fuel cell contact side helps to absorb the distortion of connector 10.
Connector 10 can be configured to woven wire, or the metal forming or clearly the form of any other structure for a person skilled in the art.In the scope of this broad, woven wire and metal forming are particularly suitable execution modes.
When being set to metal forming, this material can have very little thickness, and described thickness is preferably between about 0.1 millimeter and about 0.2 millimeter.In addition, this metal forming can be a ferritic stainless steel.The ferritic stainless steel metal forming has the thermal coefficient of expansion similar to the thermal coefficient of expansion of typical fuel cells, with regard to helping the stress that heat causes is reduced to minimum degree like this.
For wire mesh structure, desirablely be: described material is stable in the ambiance that will expose.
Be to be appreciated that connector 10 will alternately contact the male or female of fuel cell.The fuel environment that on anode-side, has rich hydrogen, and nickel and/or nickel alloy are that connector 10 is fit to the materials that use.There is oxygen in cathode side, and therefore, need be in a kind of like this environment anti-oxidant and/or form the material of conduction or semiconductive oxide skin.The material that is suitable for using in this environment comprises that chromium forms alloy (chromia-forming alloy), for example Ni-Cr, Fe, Fe-Cr, Fe-Cr-Ni and Co base alloy, Cr base alloy, noble metal, precious metal alloys and composition thereof.
Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the connector 10 that is restricted to woven wire mesh.As shown in FIG., the material of connector 10 is woven metal wire structures, described metal wire structure has one group and extends and the wire 30 of extension or extension in wave shape alternately between first 16 and second portion 18 along connector 10, with be woven the second group of wire 32 that passes wire 30 and on the direction of passage 26,28, extend perpendicular to wire 30.These wires 30,32 can be made by any suitable material.Suitable example is as indicated above.In addition, according to the environment for use of connector 10, for example whether connector will be exposed in anode reactant or cathode reactant or some other atmosphere, can select woven wire and/or metal forming so that the drag of bearing to the expection environment for use to be provided.
Wire 30,32 in the connector 10 shown in Figure 5 can be identical, perhaps can differ from one another, and this depends on aforementioned environmental factor and depends on also whether wire 30,32 carries out different functions.For example, the wire 32 that is parallel to passage 26,28 extensions does not most possibly directly transmit a large amount of electric currents, and therefore can be made by the material that is different from transmitting the wire 32 of electric current, and this is because they extend between the contact zone.
Though be to be appreciated that invention has been described in conjunction with the connector between fuel cell and the bipolar plates, connector of the present invention can be used on other position equally, thereby falls in the scope more widely of the present invention.
It will also be appreciated that: above only disclosed one embodiment of the present of invention, can make multiple modification to the disclosed structure of the present invention, material and step simultaneously, described modification all falls in the invention which is intended to be protected.

Claims (20)

1, a kind of connector that is used for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, comprise: conductive structure, described conductive structure comprises the first that limits first contact zone, limits and the second portion of second contact zone that described first contact zone separates and the mid portion that extends between described first and described second portion, wherein said mid portion links by first turning and described first, and described mid portion links by second turning and described second portion, and described first turning has than the littler radius in described second turning.
2, connector according to claim 1, wherein said conductive structure comprises woven wire.
3, connector according to claim 1, wherein said conductive structure comprises metal forming.
4, connector according to claim 3, the thickness of wherein said metal forming is between 0.1 millimeter and 0.2 millimeter.
5, connector according to claim 3, wherein said metal forming comprises ferritic stainless steel.
6, connector according to claim 1, wherein said first contact zone is the fuel cell contact zone, and described second contact zone is the bipolar plates contact zone.
7, connector according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the radius at the radius at second turning and first turning is at least 2.5.
8, equipment according to claim 7, wherein said mid portion is the size of angle between 20 ° and 70 ° with respect to described first and described second portion.
9, equipment according to claim 1, wherein said mid portion is the size of angle between 20 ° and 70 ° with respect to described first and described second portion.
10, equipment according to claim 1, wherein said first contact zone is greater than described second contact zone.
11, a kind of sofc assemblies comprises:
Fuel cell;
Bipolar plates; With
The connector structure of conduction, described connector structure comprises the first that limits with the contacted fuel cell of described fuel cell contact zone, limit the second portion of the bipolar plates contact zone that separates with described first contact zone and contact with described bipolar plates, and the mid portion that between described first and described second portion, extends, wherein said mid portion links by first turning and described first, and described mid portion links by second turning and described second portion, and described first turning has than the littler radius in described second turning.
12, assembly according to claim 11, wherein said conductive structure comprises woven wire.
13, assembly according to claim 11, wherein said conductive structure comprises metal forming.
14, assembly according to claim 13, the thickness of wherein said metal forming is between 0.1 millimeter and 0.2 millimeter.
15, assembly according to claim 13, wherein said metal forming comprises ferritic stainless steel.
16, assembly according to claim 11, wherein said first contact zone is the fuel cell contact zone, and described second contact zone is the bipolar plates contact zone.
17, assembly according to claim 11, wherein the ratio of the radius at the radius at second turning and first turning is at least 2.5.
18, assembly according to claim 17, wherein said mid portion is the size of angle between 20 ° and 70 ° with respect to described first and described second portion.
19, assembly according to claim 11, wherein said mid portion is the size of angle between 20 ° and 70 ° with respect to described first and described second portion.
20, assembly according to claim 11, wherein said fuel cell contact zone is greater than described bipolar plates contact zone.
CNA2006800568282A 2006-12-27 2006-12-27 Asymmetric dovetail interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell Pending CN101569040A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2006/049533 WO2008079141A1 (en) 2006-12-27 2006-12-27 Asymmetric dovetail interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell

Publications (1)

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CN101569040A true CN101569040A (en) 2009-10-28

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US (1) US8124293B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2111664A4 (en)
JP (1) JP2010515222A (en)
KR (1) KR20100014286A (en)
CN (1) CN101569040A (en)
WO (1) WO2008079141A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5381647B2 (en) * 2009-11-26 2014-01-08 トヨタ紡織株式会社 Fuel cell separator and method for producing the same
AT11799U1 (en) 2009-12-15 2011-05-15 Plansee Se MOLDING
US9455454B2 (en) 2011-06-28 2016-09-27 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Solid oxide fuel cell and inter-connector
KR20140053568A (en) * 2012-10-26 2014-05-08 삼성전기주식회사 Solid oxide fuel cell module

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61109262A (en) * 1984-11-01 1986-05-27 Hitachi Ltd Fuel cell
US7354675B2 (en) * 1999-10-07 2008-04-08 Proton Energy Systems, Inc. Apparatus and method for maintaining compression of the active area in an electrochemical cell
US6379831B1 (en) 2000-08-02 2002-04-30 Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation Expanded nickel screen electrical connection supports for solid oxide fuel cells
US20020182472A1 (en) 2000-09-27 2002-12-05 Molter Trent M. Apparatus and method for maintaining compression of the active area in an electrochemical cell
US7842434B2 (en) 2005-06-15 2010-11-30 Ati Properties, Inc. Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells
US7144649B2 (en) 2002-11-27 2006-12-05 Utc Fuel Cells, Llc Interconnect for solid oxide fuel cells
US20040200187A1 (en) 2002-11-27 2004-10-14 Warrier Sunil G. Compliant, strain tolerant interconnects for solid oxide fuel cell stack
US20050136312A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-06-23 General Electric Company Compliant fuel cell system

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Publication number Publication date
EP2111664A4 (en) 2011-01-26
JP2010515222A (en) 2010-05-06
EP2111664A1 (en) 2009-10-28
WO2008079141A1 (en) 2008-07-03
KR20100014286A (en) 2010-02-10
US8124293B2 (en) 2012-02-28
US20100021791A1 (en) 2010-01-28

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Application publication date: 20091028